Sts. Vartanantz – Chelmsford Honors Past and Present Choir Members

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — As part of this year’s Sts. Vartanantz centennial celebration, the parish organized a Choir Recognition Day to recognize all the dedicated choir members and organists, who over the past century, have dedicated their time and talents to beautify the liturgical services at Sts. Vartanantz Church. Some 40 past and present choir members were invited to a luncheon and program following church services, during which prayers were offered for all deceased choir members.

Following opening remarks by Choirmaster, Paul Ketchoyian, and congratulatory messages by Parish Council Chair, Bruce Kayajanian, and Sts. Vartanantz Centennial Committee chair, Sandra Boroyan, the choir sang a selection of Armenian folk songs. According to the church pastor, Father Khachatur, “The Armenian Orthodox Church is blessed to have a rich and sacred hymnology. Our choir members have been quite diligent to learn the often-intricate melodies and classical Armenian terminology. The singing and the worship service binds all of us in unity. As we sing the same hymn together, we pray together and we express our common faith and purpose in this world.” All the choir members were presented with a two CD Set and Booklet of the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church with Parts for the Priest and Deacons.

The Choir Recognition Day was the third in a series of special events to mark the centennial anniversary of the original Sts. Vartanantz Church consecrated on April 16, 1916 in Lowell. An inspiring evening of prayer and remembrance was held on April 16, 2016 exactly 100 years to the date of the consecration of the original Sts. Vartanantz Church in Lowell. A Nostalgia Evening provided a joyous atmosphere where parishioners shared happy and warm memories of parish life over the years. A yearlong wonderful photo exhibit highlighting parish history has been on display in the newly renovated church library. The final event of this centennial year is a Gala Banquet and Program scheduled for Saturday, October 15 in the Kazanjian Memorial Pavilion. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, will preside over the banquet as well as the Divine Liturgy and reception on Sunday, October 16.

Paul Ketchoyian reflected on the memories shared by the senior members as part of a newly launched choir oral history project, “Recognizing our choir members, past and present, as part of this centennial milestone is a testimony to their dedication and the vital role our choirs have been throughout the history of Sts. Vartanantz.”